The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

572. Navigating Education, Ideology, and Children | Answer the Call

·1 hr·5 clips
Jordan Peterson argues the K-12 system is irredeemably corrupt child warehousing, not education.
The episode is a Q&A format where Jordan Peterson and his daughter Michaela take live calls from listeners on education-related topics. It opens with a provocative statement questioning whether the education system is irredeemably corrupt. The first caller, Joshua from Florida, discusses homeschooling his 10-year-old son and seeks advice on socialization and academic progress, with Peterson emphasizing the importance of peer interaction and gradual responsibility transfer. Next, Jake from Wisconsin raises the conservative conundrum of abandoning corrupt institutions versus preserving them, prompting Peterson to mention alternative education models like Acton Academy and Catherine Birbelsingh's school in the UK. He also discusses the potential of AI tutors and the need for discernment in choosing schools. Oaxana from California, a Russian immigrant, asks how to instill critical thinking and moral clarity in her sons amid woke cultural hegemony, leading to a conversation about political education and using resources like the Tuttle Twins. Amy from Connecticut, an art educator, questions how to transform education and address student disengagement, with Peterson explaining the importance of setting a motivational frame and dramatizing the value of subjects. The final pre-recorded message from Carl from Alberta asks about developing intelligence in youth programs, but Peterson clarifies that IQ is stable and not easily increased, shifting focus to character development. Throughout, Peterson interweaves personal anecdotes, such as his boredom in school and experiences with teachers, and discusses broader themes like ideological corruption, the role of technology, and the spiritual aspects of education.

As heard by us

A hard look at schooling, political inoculation, and early reading choices.

The episode opens with a blunt critique of K-12 schooling and moves quickly to a question many families face: how children can build strong critical thinking and moral clarity in a culture shaped by woke ideas.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get a brisk case for teaching kids political ideas before slogans harden into habit.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Listen to the show on